ANTHONY CRUZ LEGARDA
Anthony Cruz Legarda is an award-winning Filipino American fashion designer and textile technologist whose visionary work bridges tradition and innovation. He is renowned for integrating authentic handwoven fabrics from the Philippines and Asia into contemporary fashion, transforming indigenous textile artistry into sustainable and globally relevant couture.
A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York with a foundation in Fashion Merchandising from City College of San Francisco, Legarda has built an international career that blends design excellence with cultural advocacy. His designs have been featured at world-class institutions, including the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, the Guggenheim Museum Theater in New York City, and the World Trade Center in Metro Manila.
As a consultant to the Philippine Textile Research Institute under the Department of Science and Technology, Legarda contributes to the development of Philippine Tropical Fabrics, elevating native fibers into elegant, modern expressions of sustainable fashion.
His notable achievements include designing signature piña clothing for the former Philippine President and ASEAN Ministers for the 8th ASEAN Science and Technology week in 2008, creating an earth-friendly collection for San Francisco Week during the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, and being honored as a Rotary Golden Wheel Awardee for Growing Local Economies in 2023.
Anthony currently serves as the Creative Director and Co-Founder of The HinabiProject, an initiative that supports artisan communities through the preservationand promotion of traditional Filipino textiles. He is also the Artistic and FashionDirector of the Autism Hearts Foundation, where he works with neurodivergentartists to help elevate their skills and creativity through the arts.
Curriculum Vitae
December 1, 202416th Saint Louis University Lantern Parade Contest Judge Melvin Jones Grandstand, Baguio City, Philippines
June 27, 2024KatHABI Fashion Innovation Show Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Center New York, NYC
June 22 - november 2, 2024Inabel: WeavIng traditions of Ilocos and Abra Sentro Filipino (SFFCC), San Francisco
April 4, 2024World Autism Awareness Day Exhibit United Nations Headquarters, New York City
December 7, 2023Master’s Collaboration for National Commission for Culture and the Arts Rizal Park Hotel, Manila, Philippines
October 26, 20231st Stitch Off Competition Judge PICC Forum Tent, Pasay City, Philippines
September 25, 2023Bamboo Is The Emerging Textile That Filipino Designers Are Tapping Into Next Vogue Philippines Online Fashion Feature
August 1 - october 31, 2023Weaving Peace and Dreams: Textile Arts of Mindanao Sentro Filipino (SFFCC), San Francisco
January 28, 2023Rotary Golden Wheel Awardee for Growing Local Economies, Novotel Manila Araneta City, Quezon City, Philippines
January 26, 2023KatHABI PTF Month Fashion Event, Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City, Philippines
November 20, 2022“Hibla ng Lahi” Fashion Show and Gala Dinner 1st Northern Luzon Travel Fair, Quest Plus Conference Center Clark, Pampanga, Philippines
June 25, 2022Piña Couture: An ACL 30 Year Retrospective, Sentro Filipino (San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center)
April 18 - November 2022From Pineapple to Piña: A Philippine Textile Treasure, SFO Museum Harvey Milk Terminal, San Francisco
April 2, 2022Hope: An Art Exhibit and Fashion Show Benefiting Young People with Autism Guggenheim Museum Theater, New York City
January 14, 20222022 Tela Conference Resource Speaker Mainstreaming Philippine Textiles, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
March 2, 2020Forum on Philippine Indigenous Weaving Panelist, Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City, Philippines
August 25, 2019Certificate of Honor – S.F. Board of Supervisors, Featured Designer of Filipino Culture, Far East Café, San Francisco
September 17 - December 7, 2018Mountain Spirits: Textile Arts of Cordillera & Ilocos, The Mills Building, San Francisco
June 6 - 30, 2018Weaving Peace & Dreams: Textile Arts of Mindanao, Philippine Center New York, NYC
May 9 - 12, 2018Explore Island Philippines-Textile Arts Exhibit, Vanderbilt East Hall, Grand Central Terminal, NYC
September 18 - December 1, 2017Weaving Peace & Dreams: Textile Arts of Mindanao, The Mills Building, San Francisco
April 7, 2017Fashion Arts Autism Benefit Fashion Show, Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Center New York, NYC
February 24, 2016Asia-Pacific Forestry Week Fashion Show, Fontana Convention Center, Pampanga, Philippines
September 24 - October 11, 2015Piña: An Enduring Philippine Fabric, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
May 31, 2015Silicon Valley Bloomz Fundraiser Fashion Show, Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara
October 17 - 20, 2013Fibre Filippine Fashion Show, Circolo Ufficiali della Marina, Rome, Italy
October 9, 2013Philippines on the Runway, BLDG 10, Vigor Industrial Shipyard, Portland
June 11, 2013Neo-Ethnic Philippine Fashion Show, Heritage Hotel, Pasay City, Philippines
